The Northwest Territories was recognized by the World Diamond Empowerment Fund yesterday. Premier Bob McLeod accepted a Diamonds Do Good Award that recognized the territory's sustainable diamond industry. Below are his full remarks, delivered in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 31, 2018.

Check Against Delivery.  

Good evening and thank you.

It is an honour to be here this evening to accept this award on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories. We are proud of our record and I would like to thank the Diamond Empowerment Fund and its Global Board of Directors for recognizing our dedication and commitment with this award. I would also like to thank our diamond producer partners, past and present, BHP Billiton, Dominion Diamond Mines, De Beers Canada, Mountain Province Diamonds, and Rio Tinto. 

Before I go any further, I would like to take a moment to recognize my special guests this evening, Kimi Balsillie and Kelly Lafferty-Norn.

Kimi works as an Environmental Officer at the Gahcho Kue Diamond Mine and Kelly drives and operates a 60-ton haul- truck at Diavik Diamond Mine. Both mine sites are located in the kimberlite rich area in the NWT, about 200 kilometers, or for my American friends, about 125 miles south of the Arctic Circle.

Both of these individuals are independent, Indigenous women who were born and raised in the North and have embraced the opportunities provided by diamond mining.  They represent what we are celebrating here this evening and are examples of the real partnership with Indigenous people that the government continues to promote for our jointly managed  mineral-rich lands.

The “Diamonds do Good Gala” is aptly named and I believe that diamonds have done much good in the Northwest Territories.

Our capital city, Yellowknife is often called the Diamond Capital of North America and for good reason. We are the third largest producers of diamonds by value in the world.  My officials wanted to make sure I knew that there were a lot of diamond experts in the room tonight, and believe me, I know that many, if not all of you, are as brilliant as NWT diamonds, but I can’t help but think that maybe the 8 months of snow, ice and freezing temperatures give our diamonds such quality and character.

Now  I’m sure that  as experts you will tell me it’s the unique geological features of the North that produce such high quality stones, but I like to think it also has something to do with the uniquely northern climate, dark crystal -clear skies and  mysterious landscape that contribute to the quality of our diamonds. That’s a lot more romantic anyway and one, as a supporter of the NWT diamond industry, I want to promote.

Now back to the more earthly section of my remarks. Our government has made it a priority to ensure the multi-billion dollar diamond industry would benefit the NWT economy and residents, and protect the land, water and wildlife for future generations, by developing agreements with each mine in its permitting stages, in cooperation with Aboriginal Governments

Partnership and cooperation is a way of life in the North and ensures Indigenous and non-Indigenous people are able to decide on and implement shared priorities.  These partnerships are what have placed us on the cutting edge of socially-conscious mineral development in North America.  It is also why our residents and businesses support diamond mining because they are an important part of it.

Thanks to our agreements and partnership including our socio-economic Impact Benefit Agreements and formalized partnerships with diamond producers these investments have created jobs and economic opportunities. They have also empowered a host of local Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents with the opportunities to gain valuable and transferrable education and experience across a range of sectors. 

Today, natural resource development requires a social license to operate.  In the Northwest Territories, we believe  strongly that our diamond producers are innovators and have truly embraced the northern way of life this means approaching diamond mining with a consultative approach, one that ensures benefits are positive for generations to come, and one that ensures our environment is safe guarded for future generations.

Thank you again for this award.  We will continue to ensure that Diamonds do Good in the Northwest Territories for generations to come.

Thank you.